Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said that the long-term vision for the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) is to transform it into a full-fledged university offering internationally accredited programmes.

Speaking during the debate on the ABCAS Bill, Browne said while the newly established institution is currently classified as a college, it must not remain at that level. “Clearly we couldn’t call it a university at this stage because the programmes are not yet at university level,” he said. “But one will hope that as the institution evolves, the programmes will be upgraded.”

The ABCAS Bill consolidates four existing tertiary institutions — Antigua State College, the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Information Technology (ABIIT), the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute (ABHTI), and the School of Continuing Education — into a single statutory body.

Browne described the merger as a critical first step in a broader vision to enhance national and regional access to higher education. “The objective in the long run is for this college to be upgraded to a university,” he said.

The Prime Minister added that discussions are already underway with international institutions to accredit some of the college’s programmes. “The Minister of Education has had advanced discussions with George Brown University in Canada, for example, to ensure our programmes meet international standards,” Browne said.

He stressed that global competitiveness demands high-quality education and suggested that the new institution could potentially function as a branch of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus or a standalone university over time.

Browne also said the government is prepared to invest in new programmes and bring in additional skilled lecturers to reach the necessary academic standards. “All competition is global, and we must meet those standards,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s remarks underscore a broader national push to elevate Antigua and Barbuda’s position as an emerging hub for higher education in the region.